AD FS 2.0 RTM Information Card Issuance CTP

A new solution from Microsoft is designed to streamline the process of issuing information cards from the RTM version of Active Directory Federation Services 2.0. Early adopters can already access and start testing the Community Technical Preview of Information Card Issuance. As many others of the company’s offerings, Information Card Issuance CTP is available via Microsoft Connect, and will require testers to have a valid Windows Live ID.

The Information Card Issuance was designed as an add-on for Active Directory Federation Services 2.0 RTM, according to the software giant. The AD FS 2.0 RTM extension simplifies the issuance of IMI 1.0- and IMI 1.1-compliant information cards. Active Directory Federation Services 2.0 was wrapped up at the start of this month, and is available for download from the Redmond company.

In the end, the Information Card Issuance add-on is yet another offering from Microsoft set up to simplify authentication within enterprise environments. Microsoft underlines that the new offering increases flexibility and security of authentication to applications within the enterprise but also into the cloud. The company encourages customers running AD FS 2.0 to grab the add-on and start testing it immediately. Of course, Microsoft is looking for feedback from testers as the development process for Information Card Issuance unfolds, customers having a chance to impact the evolution of the add-on in accordance with their specific authentication needs within their environments.

“The CTP will support the following scenarios:
• Administrators can install an Information Card Issuance component on AD FS 2.0 RTM servers and configure Information Card Issuance policy and parameters.
• End users with IMI 1.0- or IMI 1.1 (DRAFT)-compliant identity selectors can obtain Information Cards backed by username/password, X.509 digital certificate, or Kerberos.
• Continued support for Windows CardSpace 1.0 in Windows 7, Windows Vista and Windows XP SP 3 running .NET 3.5 SP1,” a member of the Microsoft Forefront team stated.

Active Directory Federation Services 2.0 is available for download here.